We have reached a big milestone today!
Half term in our new jobs and new schools!
After a whirlwind three months I sit here on the veranda with a glass of wine, music playing and a cat curled up on my feet and as my staff are so fond of saying, “breath”.
Tonight I ur resident owls are circling, a mated pair who have claimed our road as their own, they are like grey ghosts flying up and down the road each night. Sometimes they hoot and screech. Other nights they are completely silent. This evening they flew past me as I was getting out of the car, no more than four feet off the ground and only three feet away, they did not make a sound just glided past. They are big birds too, they did not half make me jump!
The frogs in the garden are ‘pipping’ and ‘chirping’ little wet, falling water sounds all around in the dark. The frogs are tiny, they could sit on a penny, tiny and perfect.
It began to sink in this week this is my second headship! Now that’s a claim. Head of two different schools on two sides of the world, cool.
Oriel had a visit from OFSTED this week. Not being there was really strange and while part of me was immeasurable pleased not to be there it was like sitting in the waiting room at the maternity ward or watching you kids compete knowing they are on their own. I felt helpless. The outcome of the inspection will I guess reflect the performance of the team over the two days, the work they have done this last half term and just how ingrained the legacy I left behind is. I am confident they will do well but it is a two week wait for the report…
Meanwhile here in the Caribbean we are feeling settled, Vic had her second visit to The Brac, I am quite jealous really as it is quite an adventure, still I will get out there! Yes I will!
The children are enjoying school and finding their feet, Poppy is thriving! And I am loving Prospect. My staff, the buggers, do have a habit of seeing me coming a switching to a thick patois to try to catch me out but I am learning the lingo fast and have been surprising them by showing them I know exactly what they have said. ‘Wagwan‘ goes a long way, especially if followed by a kiss of the teeth and drawling ‘foolishness!’ My lot think it’s really funny. I think they think I am rather eccentric, little do they know just how eccentric!
My Year 6 have heritage lessons on a Wednesday learning about traditional Cayman craft and culture. The lessons are amazing, this week they were looking at traditional Cayman weaving. I asked Mr Christian who leads the session if he could point me in the direction of where I could get a traditional Cayman hat.
Two hours later I was the proud owner of this freshly made beauty! My new duty hat, practical and stylish. That’s right a hand woven Caymanian Sun hat!
Oh the beard? Well that is me getting ready for Pirates Week. Cayman’s National Week when it all goes a bit piraty round here. My great, great, great, great, great Aunt Mary, Mary Read, was a local pirate of some renown so I reckon I stand in good stead and even if the genealogy is a bit suspect it’s a good story and one that goes down well here.
‘And how do you spell Read? Is it Reid?’ Comes the question.
‘Nope’ says I, ‘R, E, A, D, like the pirate.’
‘Oh,’ comes the response full of a new found respect and acceptance (I imagine).
The Caymanians love to find a familial link when they meet a new person. Often their first question on meeting is ‘who ya for,’ followed by a long mutual exploration (well not that long, it’s a small island) of family trees until a common link is found. It’s normally about two degrees of separation… the Kevin Bacon Game has really short rounds here as most people share great grandparents. But their is real delight when clan and family links are made and shared histories and family tales quickly follow.
I reckon chief family tree tracer Gubby will be able to confirm my bonifidies… dad? A simple yes will suffice to prove my link to the black sheep of the family and establish my credentials as having local connections!
Poppy and I have matching smashed toes this week.
Hers from a door, mine from a rock on the beach, mine has meant a trip (no pun) to A&E and four follow up visits to the doctor but, fingers crossed, it is on the mend! James thought it was all very funny until Marcel inducted him to the club on Wednesday night by biting and scratching his foot while he slept. Victoria is breathing a sign of relief as she reckons three toes in plasters is the full set and she is safe!
When questioned about the Curious Incident of the Toe in the Night Time he said he was innocent, and with those big eyes who can help but believe him!
On the way home, for dinner, tonight I stopped at Da Kit Chin and picked up festival and pork.
Now it might not look much but people drive for miles to get food here and there is always a line of customers around the corner, the food is great! I suppose it fills the niche in the food chain that fish and chips does in the UK. Festival is a local bread.
And if prof were needed that it has been a busy three months…
Sleepy girl and sleepy cats.
So half term and we have our first visitors on their way. Roger and Sally are coming out for a ten day stay so I reckon we will go sailing, head up to Rum Point, go on the submarine, head out to Sting Ray City, do Brunch at the Westin and bum around on the beach… sounds like a plan to me anyway.
Under an Endless Sky 